National

Kathua, Dec 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the massive voter turnout in the first three phases of the assembly polls, saying their fingers on EVM machines did what triggers of AK 47 could not do.

Addressing an election rally here today, Modi saluted people of Kathua for bravely facing the bullets from across the border adding, "You all sent across a great message. Your fingers on EVM machines did what triggers of AK 47 could not do".

This time he asked political pundits to stop predicting the poll results as they can analyse by seeing the crowd only, but they do not know what people want.

He blamed the Congress, National Conference, PDP for the problems in the state and asked people to punish them by giving mandate to the BJP for the progress and development that the state lacked in the country.

"If you punish them once, they will realise their mistakes. Has BJP ever formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir? Did we ever commit any mistake? Don't you know who are the first, second and third offenders," he asked the people who cheered back in response.

Speaking about the dynastic politics, he asked, "What does Congress do when the elections come? Stab the other party in the back. Dynastic politics can never become the voice of the people. PDP comes and Congress comes in, NC comes, they again come in. Should we not remove Congress from here?"

The state is going to polls in the fourth phase tomorrow for 8 assembly seats in Srinagar.